Some believed that some of these fires were caused by coal mining, while some observers attributed the reasons to rapidly volatile weather waves and drought, which can make conditions favorable for the ignition of wildfires, after the rapid climate change, which makes the vegetation cover more flammable and the soil drier. .
National Strategy for the Preservation of Forest Wealth
Lebanon’s Ministry of Environment saw the need to launch a national strategy to reduce the risk of forest fires.
The interim government’s environment minister, Dr. Nasser Yassin, said in an exclusive interview with “Sky News Arabia”: “This strategy has been updated, and this update (approved by a government decision in 2009 ) complies with the most important requirements that must be taken to meet the emerging challenges related to the risk of epidemics.” And the spread of green space fires in Lebanon is decreasing year by year.
Goals
The Lebanese Minister of Environment added: “The updated strategy aims to reduce the risk of frequent outbreaks of forest fires, in conjunction with the activation of firefighting systems that are economically, socially and ecologically sustainable”.
He continued, “The new strategy emphasizes the principle of preventing fires before they occur through the implementation of local plans and procedures, in addition to the principle of educating citizens and partnership between local, official and security agencies such as the military, security forces, the private sector and academia”.
Among its main objectives are:
Coordinate the efforts of the ministries concerned and support the national response to improve fire risk management. Reduce the risk of frequent outbreaks of forest fires. Maintain comprehensive local preparedness in Lebanese governorates, especially those close to forests, which are more exposed to fires during the dry season.
Minister Yassine explained: “The importance of the local community groups of the municipalities, the civil protection apparatus and the volunteers lies in their rapid arrival at the scene of the fire, but they need support, and we are working to enable and provide them with the necessary tools to fight the fire in its infancy and prevent its spread, as we seek to ensure appropriate financial support for it.
He continued, “We are working on setting up a fund for emergencies, getting support from international organizations and collecting donations from the private sector.”
the challenge
Yassin told “Sky News Arabia” that “the main challenge remains how to empower the groups working on the ground”, and revealed “the willingness of the Ministry of Environment to start implementing the pollution reduction plan. forest fires during the first week of next June, coinciding with Forest Week.”
What about numbers?
Yassin confirmed that the efforts made by the Ministry of Environment during the year 2022 were able to bring the percentage of forest protection in Lebanon to 91% compared to the rates of previous years.
He explained, “Statistics on large forest fires in Lebanon, which were recorded on the ground or by satellites between 2008 and 2020,” indicate the following:
The average burned area was 1449 hectares. The average annual number of fires is 167. The average length of a fire season is 200 days.
cup 28
The Lebanese Minister of Environment affirmed that the COP 28 climate summit, to be held in the United Arab Emirates, during the month of November 2023, “has great importance at the Arab and international level”.
He added: “The significance of the summit is heightened by the fact that it is being held in an Arab country and in order to highlight the needs and demands related to Arab countries.”
He said: “We as small countries do not have much impact on climate change in terms of global warming and negative impacts on societies, unlike large industrialized countries.”
He explained: “According to the agreements, industrialized countries must guarantee funding and support for developing countries, and this is where the debates and the paradoxes lie.”
And he continued: “Industrialized countries have pledged and pledged to obtain $155 billion, and we in Lebanon, together with Arab countries, are raising our voices to obtain financing from industrialized countries, in addition to several aspects, including technology and precautions against climate change and flooding.”
Yassin concluded his speech on the upcoming climate summit by saying, “This is an important opportunity to exchange expertise, experiences and support on the environmental issue around the world.
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